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Sanchez likely to serve as Giants' DH in Detroit

Sanchez likely to serve as Giants' DH in Detroit

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Hector Sanchez

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DETROIT -- As he indicated earlier this week, manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that he is leaning toward employing backup catcher Hector Sanchez as the Giants' designated hitter for the World Series games at Comerica Park.

"I could change my mind tonight, but to be honest, that's how I'm thinking right now," Bochy said. "He's a switch-hitter, and he's had a pretty good year with the bat when he's been out there."

Sanchez batted .280 with three home runs and 34 RBIs in 74 games this season. The 22-year-old rookie has gone 1-for-7 in three postseason appearances.

"I want to be on the field -- every inning, every play," Sanchez said. "I just want the opportunity, no matter what. If I'm the DH, I'll just try to help the team."

DHs, particularly younger players such as Sanchez, sometimes struggle to occupy themselves between at-bats. Sanchez said that he'll probably retreat to the clubhouse area to stretch or run sprints.

"You have to be prepared for that situation," said Sanchez, who went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in his lone regular-season DH stint on June 24 at Oakland.

The lone risk of using Sanchez as the DH is the chain reaction that would occur if catcher Buster Posey left the game due to an injury. Sanchez could catch, but the Giants would forfeit the right to use a DH. In that event, the pitcher would have to bat, as he does in National League games.